Lactose Anhydrous
Excipient (pharmacologically inactive substance)
What is Lactose Anhydrous?
Lactose (C12H22O11) is milk sugar. It is a disaccharide composed of one galactose and one glucose molecule. In the pharmaceutical industry, lactose is used to help form tablets because it has excellent compressibility properties. It is also used to form a diluent powder for dry-powder inhalations. Lactose may be listed as lactose hydrous, lactose anhydrous, lactose monohydrate, or lactose spray-dried.[1]
People who are lactose intolerant do not have the enzymes needed to digest lactose. Most medications do not contain enough lactose to cause lactose intolerance. But some patients with severe lactose intolerance may experience symptoms. Lactose can be found in birth control pills, and some OTC drugs to treat stomach acid or gas.[2] Patients who are specifically "allergic" to lactose (not just lactose intolerant) should not use tablets containing lactose, or ask their health care provider prior to use.
[1] Dave RH. Overview of pharmaceutical excipients used in tablets and capsules. Drug Topics (online). Advanstar. 10/24/2008 http://drugtopics.modernmedicine.com/drugtopics/Top+News/Overview-of-pharmaceutical-excipients-used-in-tabl/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/561047. Accessed 08/19/2011
[2] Anon. Lactose Intolerance. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. NIH Publication No. 09–2751 June 2009; http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/lactoseintolerance/#products. Accessed 08/19/2011
Top Medications Containing Lactose Anhydrous
- Baclofen 10 mg (Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.)
- Buspirone Hydrochloride 15 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- BusPIRone Hydrochloride 15 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Carisoprodol 350 mg (Watson Pharmaceuticals)
- Clonazepam 1 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Clonazepam 0.5 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Clonazepam 2 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
- Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride 10 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals)
- Diazepam 10 mg (Watson Pharmaceuticals)
- Diazepam 5 mg (Watson Laboratories, Inc.)
- Dilaudid 4 mg (Purdue Pharma LP)
- Hydroxyzine Pamoate 25 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Meclizine Hydrochloride 25 mg (Par Pharmaceutical Inc.)
- Metronidazole 500 mg (Teva Pharmaceuticals USA)
- Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 mg (Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories)
- PredniSONE 20 mg (Watson Pharmaceuticals)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Zydus Pharmaceuticals)
- Tramadol Hydrochloride 50 mg (Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories)
- Valium 10 mg (Roche Laboratories)
- Zolpidem Tartrate 10 mg (Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
